Pulse-63 Healthcare Ventures, a venture studio focused on healthcare startups in the Philippines, today announced a strategic investment from MSD (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA). The investment was made through MSD IDEA Studio Asia Pacific, an initiative of the MSD Global Health Innovation Fund (MGHIF).
Pulse-63 specializes in backing and building healthcare startups that address challenges for various stakeholders in the Philippine healthcare system, including providers, patients, insurers, and employers. The studio develops Business-to-Consumer (B2C) digital health platforms with an online-to-offline focus and Business-to-Business (B2B) Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions that utilize AI to optimize patient access and clinical operations. This investment from MSD is intended to support Pulse-63’s mission to streamline the patient journey and improve health outcomes in the Philippines through technology and insights.
“Pulse-63 is tackling a critical challenge in healthcare—making sure patients can reach the right care at the right time,” said Kyle McAndrews, Pulse-63 Managing Director. “MSD’s support will help us to continue to build an ecosystem of founders and companies making exceptional healthcare accessible to all in the Philippines and to deepen our impact across the country.”
The collaboration with MSD IDEA Studio Asia Pacific, a global innovation team focused on patient-centric solutions, reflects a shared commitment to improving healthcare access, affordability, and digital transformation in the Philippines.
“At MSD, we recognize the promise of start-ups emerging from Pulse-63 towards addressing healthcare challenges from the ground up,” said Saumick Pal, Head of Digital, Data Analytics & Innovation at MSD Asia Pacific. “Pulse-63’s ecosystem-first approach aligns with our mission to enhance healthcare accessibility, affordability, and efficiency across the Philippines and the broader Asia Pacific region.”
Since its inception, Pulse-63 has helped launch and grow several ventures, including Kindred Health, GoRocky, Dent, Hoops, and SwiftClaims. These companies aim to improve healthcare access and delivery. Pulse-63’s portfolio currently includes more than a dozen active ventures. With MSD’s investment, the company plans to scale operations, enhance research and development, and pursue key partnerships within the local healthcare ecosystem.
Pulse-63 Healthcare Ventures builds an ecosystem of founders and companies focused on making healthcare accessible in the Philippines. The firm supports ventures addressing challenges for providers, patients, insurers, and employers through B2B SaaS solutions and B2C digital health platforms with an online-to-offline focus. For more information, visit http://www.pulse63.com.